HANDEL’S DUEL

Not many famous composers can say they literally fenced over an opera gig. But a young George Frideric Handel almost did.

Early‑1700s opera was chaotic: the music director sat at a harpsichord on the stage, and important guests treated the stage like VIP seating—talking, commenting, and generally causing trouble. Handel was sharing duties with the composer Johann Mattheson. In Mattheson’s opera *Cleopatra*, Mattheson also played Antony. When Antony died early in the show, he walked down to the pit and asked to take over as director at the keyboard—something he usually did.

Handel, already famous for a short fuse, refused. Words escalated, then—outside the theater—Mattheson slapped him. Handel drew his sword, Mattheson drew his, and they dueled on the spot. Musical history got lucky: Mattheson’s blade struck a metal button on Handel’s coat and snapped. Honor satisfied, nobody died, and the two were friends again. Discord… resolved.